Udemy and Indeed Data Reveals Growing Skills Gap Between Workers and Employers
Event summary
- Udemy and Indeed released a joint report titled 'The Future-Proofing Instinct' highlighting a disconnect between worker upskilling and employer hiring priorities.
- Only 4% of job listings mention AI, yet 67.5% of employee upskilling efforts are focused on AI skills.
- Tech workers dedicate 95% of their upskilling to AI, while only 17.5% of fastest-growing tech job postings are AI-related.
- Soft skills like communication and leadership are prioritized by employers but overlooked by workers focusing on technical skills.
- AI skills in job postings grew from 3.2% to 22.3% in Australia and from 5.8% to 21.9% in the US between September 2023 and September 2025.
The big picture
The report underscores a critical misalignment in the labor market where workers are preparing for future AI-driven roles while employers are focused on immediate hiring needs. This disconnect could lead to talent mismatches and underscore the need for more strategic workforce planning. The findings also highlight the growing importance of soft skills in an AI-driven economy, suggesting a potential shift in how companies evaluate and develop talent.
What we're watching
- AI Adoption Pace
- The pace at which industries adopt AI skills in hiring practices will determine the relevance of current upskilling efforts by workers.
- Soft Skills Gap
- Whether employers can bridge the soft skills gap through targeted training programs or if workers will need to take initiative.
- Market Differentiation
- How platforms like Udemy and Indeed will differentiate themselves as the primary sources for workforce development insights.
Related topics